Funnel.



WILLIE L. BLANCHARD, 0F LEI-IIGH, OKLAHOMA.

FUNNEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 12, 1913.

Patented Apr. '3, 1914. Serial No. 773,337.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIE L. BLANCH- ann, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lehigh, in the county of Coal, State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Funnels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a-ppert'ains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tunnels, and it more particularly relates to an improved form of self-Stopping funnels.

An object of the invention is to provide a tunnel of this character with a float of such dimensions that it may be inserted in the mouth of any bottle, jug, etc., into which the mouth or spout of the funnel may be inserted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which, when the receptacle has been filled, may be removed from the receptacle without spilling the liquid which remains in the funnel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of maximum convenience the valve or stopper being actuated by means of a thumb-engaging member, so that the fingers of the operator are free to engage with the adjacent side of the tunnel, for properly handling and carrying the same. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple of construction, comparatively inexpensive, and thoroughly effective in its operation.

Other objects and advantages may be recited hereinafter and in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which supplement this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete funnel. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the funnel on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, except that the spout of the funnel is open, and Fig. 4 illustrates a fragmental plan view of the funnel.

Referring to these drawlngs, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts, throughout the several views: The body of the funnel is generally desig nated by the numeral 5, and together with its spout 6 is of ordinary construction, except as follows: A substantially U-shaped bracket 7 is secured by rivets 8 to the upper portion of the body 5 and extends radially inward to the middle portion of the funnel. A brace member 9 has its lower end secured at 9 to the body of the funnel and has its upper end bifurcated, as at 10, and the furcatlons terminate in eyes 11 which engage Wlth the bight portion 12 of the bracket 7. These eyes 11 constitute guides between which is seated a chain 13, which is slideble over said bight portion 12, and has its upper end secured atlt to a plate 15, which together with a loop 16, constitutes a litter member which coacts with the chain for lifting the stopper or valve member 17. The loop 16 lies in a chordal plane of the funnel, so as to accommodate a thumb of the operator or user in the most comfortable and convenient position. The valve member comprises a relatively small elongated stem 18 and an enlarged portion or head 19, said head being hollowed as indicated at 20, so as to provide an air chamber. A plate 21 is secured within the body of the funnel, adjacent to its top and between the anchored ends of the bracket 7, rivets 22 or other proper means being employed for securing said plate 21. This plate is hingedly connected at 23 to the plate 15 and adapted to swing thereon in a vertical plane when the funnel is in use. A weightor counterbalance 24 is secured on the chain 13 for assist ing the gravity of the stopper 17 for holding the plate 15 in its lower position, and also for holding the stopper normally in its lower and open position.

In operation, the [funnel is first placed in the mouth of a jug or bottle, and liquid is passed therethrough until the bottle or other receptacle is filled, or approximately filled, whereupon, the member 17 constitutes a float which rises until its shoulder 25 contacts with the lower end of the funnel spout, thus tending to prevent more of the liquid from passing through the funnel. The operator, who is holding the funnel in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, with his thumb through the loop 16, now presses the plate 15 upward, thereby drawing the shoulder 25 snugly against the spout 6 and thus preventing the liquid from escaping from the funnel while it is being transferred to an empty receptacle to be filled. Now, when the plate 15 is released, so as to allow the weight 24 to draw the chain 13 downward, the stopper is lowered for allowing the liquid to pass around its relatively small portion 18 until i this vessel has been filled; whereupon, the float is again raised, as previously described, and this operation may be continually repeated. Instead of pressing upwardly on the loop to raise the plate, it may be found expedient to press the plate downwardly against the side of the funnel, thus as is obvious securing the same function and enabling the operator to more tightly grip the funnel.

On account of the stopper 17 being chamberedat 20, the same is materially lightened, and the air which is confined therein by the liquid thereunder assists in raising the stoppe* to its spout-closing position. A wire loop 26 is engaged around the bight portion of the member 7 so as to constitute a keeper, for aiding the guides 11 in preventing disengagement oi the chain 13, with the bight portion 12. It will be seen that I have provided a tunnel of this character which is fully capable of attaining the foregoing objects, in a thoroughly practical and eii ective manner. p r

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herewith illustrated and described, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonable interpretation of the claims.

Iclainr:

1. In combination with a funnel, a substantially U-shaped bracket having its bight portion extended to the axis of the funnel, a brace member having its lower end secured to the body of the funnel and having its upper end bifurcated and terminating in a pair of spaced eyes which engage with the bight portion of said U-shaped bracket and constitute a guide, a chain seated between said eyes and being slidable over said bight portion, a plate hingedly mounted on the funnel and extending in the direction of said bi ht portion and engaging with said chain, a loop on said plate adapted for engagement with the thumb of an operator, and a stopper secured to the lower end of said chain.-

2. In combination with a funnel, a sub stantially U-shaped bracket secured to the top portion of the funnel and extending inward 'to the axis thereof, a brace member extended downward from the bight portion of the U-shaped bracket and secured to the body of the funnel, a chain slidable over said bight portion, a keeper on the bight portion for preventing disengagement of the chain therewith, a member hingedly mounted on the funnel and extending inwardly thereof and having an upstanding loop and a stopper secured to the lower end of said chain and adapted to be raised for closing the mouth of the funnel by means of said chain and hingedly mounted member.

3. In combination with a funnel, a sub sta-ntially U-shaped bracket having the free ends of its arms secured to the body of the funnel and having its bight portion adjacent to the axis of the funnel, a plate secured beover the bight portion of the bracket.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

F. F. WHrrLooK, Lewis G. SLEEPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7

Washington, D. G. r

thereon and being engaged with said chain,

tween the ends of the bracket, a second plate hingedly mounted plate and beingslidable WILLIE L. BLANoHARD. 

